Youth-only weekend hunt

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Texas game wardens prepares the next wave of hunters for launch from Tarpon Shores Marina during a youth-only weekend duck hunt sponsored by Ducks Unlimited and ValueBank.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Everything was provided for the hunt. Game wardens volunteered the airboat rides. Local guides offered their blinds. Volunteers acted as guides and provided decoys. DU and ValueBank paid for everything.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton Haney and his dad wait for the next airboat to ferry them to a blind near the Lighthouse Lakes. Ashton seemed focused beyond his years the entire time.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES About a dozen boys between the ages of nine and 15 answered the invitation from Ducks Unlimited for the Sunday afternoon hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Don Wilkinson makes some last minute adjustments to his Robo-duck, which Pearl, a black lab cools off in the bay.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton wanted to do it all, including wade without boots or waders to help Don Wilkinson set out decoys.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Texas Game Warden Lerrin Williams helps arrange decoys for the hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton unwinds the cord on a decoy the way he was taught.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton showed no hesitation during any aspect of he hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Naturally helpful, Ashton asked what he could do next to assist his mentors.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Notice the intensity in Ashton's eyes. He absorbed everything in stride and never once appeared overwhelmed.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES One of the hunters examines shells from the bay while waiting for the hunt to begin.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Don Wilkinson, appearing like Moses on the water, returns to the blind after planting his Robo-duck among his decoys.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton's first duck was a pintail hen that he shot as it fly across a bright sun. It was a good shot under difficult conditions.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES For years veteran Game Warden Albert Flores, known as one of the deans of local wardens, has been volunteering to ferry young hunters to duck blinds for various organizations. Flores is a true ambassador for the department.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton and Wilkinson survey the spread, while Wilkinson explains why the decoys are arranged the way they are.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton follows instructions well and was never distracted during the hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Seeing game wardens in this light makes a good impression on young hunters.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton did not want to part with his pintail. Most of the kids shot at least one duck during the afternoon hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton awaits the airboat ride back to shore.

PHOTO COURTESY LERRIN WILLIAMS Ashton managed to shoot his first duck during a hunt that featured mostly duck-less skies.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES DU volunteer Gary Herring assumes his usual role of grillmaster during the afternoon DU/ValueBank youth hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Kids line up for a pre-hunt meal of hot dogs and burgers at Tarpon Shores Marina in Aransas Pass.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The youth-only weekend hunts are available statewide for deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The partnership between local game wardens and Ducks Unlimited is solidly behind recruiting young hunters.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Game Warden Albert Flores gives a refresher course on gun safety and duck blind etiquette before the hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ducks Unlimited and ValueBank have been sponsoring hunters education courses since 2001 and hosting youth hunts since 2010.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Ashton had a no-nonsense look in his eyes during much of the event. Waiting for a boat ride to the blind was not his favorite part of the hunt.